A short history lesson...

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Today we went to the Crypta Balbi with Davide for class. The Crypta Balbi is another one of the four parts of the Museo Nazionale Romano, and it is one of the best areas to study the stratification of Rome. Since the city now stands above its original level, the history of the city can be understood through its vertical layers. This is visible in a lot of places around Rome; for example, the Stadium of Domitian is the foundation of Piazza Navona, which is why the piazza is in the shape of a large oval. The crypta originally included a theatre and courtyards, then evolved into markets, warehouses, churches, and later houses, which were eventually abandoned, and later excavated.

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